PHOTO GALLERY: Renovated Floridian National Golf Club in Palm City draws rave reviews

PALM CITY - Professional golf teacher Butch Harmon (left) talks to a crowd about how to properly swing the club along with professional golfer Mark O'Meara (right) during a golf clinic on Friday afternoon at the Floridian Golf and Yacht Club.

The fitness/spa area helps make the Floridian "maybe the finest club in the whole state of Florida," according to Butch Harmon.

That morning, Major League Baseball owners approved Crane, 57, as the new owner of the Houston Astros. That night, Crane threw the door open on his renovated Floridian National Golf Club.

All in a day's work for the Houston businessman (Crane Worldwide Logistics and Crane Capital), who has dreamed of owning a baseball team for many years and can also hit a golf ball with the best of them — he has been ranked as the nation's top CEO golfer.

"We have had a busy week," Crane said Friday, hinting that he would also like to see his Astros some day train in Martin County. "After the vote was made (Thursday), I was called into the room with all the owners and the commissioner (Bud Selig) and got a standing ovation. (Selig) said don't get used to it, that will be the last one."

That's OK with Crane, who was getting plenty of praise Friday from all of those gathered at the Floridian for the first full day of golf on architect Tom Fazio's renovated course, a project that took just over seven months to complete and includes spectacular views of the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.

"It is everything you could ever ask for when it comes to wanting to be at a good course," said member Mark O'Meara, a two-time major winner — the Masters and the British Open in 1998 — who helped put on a clinic Friday. "What they have done here in just seven months is unbelievable."

While the course and clubhouse are impressive, Crane feels the Butch Harmon Learning Center will set his club apart from the rest.

"We wanted to get Butch to do a teaching school, and it's really only the second one he has ever done," Crane said of the new facility that features the latest in Titleist golf instruction equipment. "We will have (Harmon's) son, Claude, here full time, so that adds a real dimension to the club."

So does a new, state-of-the-art fitness/spa area that overlooks the river, something Butch Harmon said helps make the Floridian "maybe the finest club in the whole state of Florida."

"I don't know of another place that can offer the things we can offer to members and guests," Harmon said.

Crane said he hopes to keep membership right at 300 and added, "We also have 80 lots around the property and that should help us recapture some of our investment as time goes on."

Even an overcast day with intermittent drizzle couldn't dampen Crane's spirits.

"It was two things (owning a team and golf course) that I never thought I would be able to accomplish," he said. "I was able to pull it together and I am very happy about it."

FLORIDIAN FACTS

Jim Crane purchased the Floridian from H. Wayne Huizenga in April 2010 and has just completed major renovations and additions to the club grounds.

GOLF COURSE

Was completely rebuilt by architect Tom Fazio. Approximately 250,000 cubic yards of material/dirt was moved. TifGrand grass on all fairways/tee boxes, MiniVerde on greens. All fairways sand capped to ensure top surface is firm/fast. Five sets of tees — 7,200 yards from the back — playing to par 71.

FITNESS/SPA

New facility located just west of clubhouse and overlooks the river. Fitness center is 2,000 square feet, spa is 4,000 square feet. Pool, hot and cold tubs.

BUTCH HARMON LEARNING CENTER

Building (5,500 square feet) will include TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) Trackman and other equipment, putting area, hitting bays, fitness center, 12-acre outdoor practice area. The facility will be run by world's top golf instructor Butch Harmon and son, Claude.

COTTAGES

There were three existing cottages and three more were added — 30 totals beds. There also is an existing dormitory — 12 beds. Future plans include lots (up to 80) to construct new cottages/homes on the property.